Raiders rookie WR Moore a good play
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Denarius Moore jumps into the end zone for a touchdown on a 23-yard end around ahead of Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie (31) and cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) during the third quarter in Oakland, Calif. The Jets lost, 34-24 (Sept. 25, 2011) Credit: AP
There are always a few rookies who draw rave reviews in training camp and fantasy football players get excited, buy in and get disappointed. It's one thing to do it in the preseason and another to do it in real games.
It was easy to be more skeptical this season with rookies thanks to the lockout. For Raiders rookie WR Denarius Moore, the preseason hype was warranted and it has translated to the games.
After recording no catches in Week 1, Moore started in Week 2 with injuries to Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Moore came through with five catches for 146 yards and an impressive leaping 50-yard touchdown in double coverage and had a 25-yard run.
In a difficult matchup last week against the Jets, Moore had just four catches for 34 yards, but did score on a 23-yard run. Moore is a playmaker and faces a Patriots defense that is ranked last against the pass. Start him and if Ford is available, pick him up.
Some other good starts in Week 4:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills, QB): The spread offense is clicking and Fitzpatrick has nine TDs in three games. The Bengals rank fifth against the pass, but faced weak passing teams in the Browns, Broncos, and 49ers.
Eli Manning (Giants, QB): The successful running game is setting up the pass. Manning will get wide receiver Mario Manningham back and the Cardinals rank 25th against the pass and that includes a game against the inept Seahawks.
Tim Hightower (Redskins, RB): The Rams rank last against the run and are allowing 5.45 yards per carry. If Hightower has another good game, consider selling high.
LeGarrette Blount (Buccaneers, RB): Will get a heavy workload in a game the Bucs will control against the Colts.
James Starks (Packers, RB): Had 11 carries for 5 yards last week, but will get most of the carries with Ryan Grant out and the Packers will be in control against the Broncos, meaning lots of second-half carries.
Santonio Holmes (Jets, WR): When a top wide receiver complains about his usage the previous week, he usually gets fed the ball a lot. Holmes wasn't happy about getting two targets and finished with just a 19-yard reception last week against the Raiders. The Jets will be forced to throw against the Ravens and Holmes will bounce back.
Lance Moore (Saints, WR): There might be some trepidation to play Moore with the likely return of WR Marques Colston, who is listed as questionable and will play limited snaps if he goes. It won't have a major impact on Moore, who caught all nine of his targets last week and is a key part of the Saints' offense.
Greg Olsen (Panthers, TE): Olsen is coming off a seven-catch game with a TD and is facing his former team that sent him packing. The Bears play a Cover 2 defense that has been shredded by tight ends the first three weeks. Packers TE Jermichael Finley scored three TDs against the Bears last week.
Vernon Davis (49ers, TE): The Eagles always have trouble defending tight ends.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
